Men's Crew

2005 Men's Crew Preview

Mar 24, 2005

March 24, 2005

Providence, RI -
With the return of eight upperclassmen and a large sophomore class, the 2005 Brown crew team is a small but dynamic squad. A strong core of veterans will lead Brown, most of them with some experience in the varsity eight. Head Coach Paul Cooke, entering his fourth season at the helm, will look for several members of last season's first novice crew, which took fourth at the IRA Championships, to step up and challenge them for seats in the varsity eight.

Beddoes, who took silver at the Under 23 World Championships in the eight for Canada last summer, spent all of last season in the varsity boat at either the number three or four seats. Hurtado, who placed 16th at the C.R.A.S.H. B Championships, spent the majority of the year in the second varsity boat while Kooyker stroked the varsity boat before being sidelined with an illness. Oyen moved from the three seat in the varsity boat to the stroke seat in place of Kooyker.

Ten sophomores return for their second campaigns after successful rookie seasons in 2004. The second novice crew placed first in the grand final race of the Eastern Sprints last spring while the first novice squad took second in the grand finals. The first novice was also ranked third in the country for a good portion of the season and defeated Princeton's first novice crew, which was ranked second in the nation, during the regular season. It will be crucial for the second-years to step up and help fill the voids left in the varsity boats.

Brown's incoming freshmen class has already proved to be strong with the first novice eight winning the Head of the Connecticut Regatta in the fall. The Bears have added 16 freshmen to this year's team, under the direction of first year coach Lucas McGee. Newcomer Dane Wetschler (Bradford Woods, PA) finished 18th among collegiate rowers at the C.R.A.S.H. B Indoor Championships in February.

Brown will begin the season on April 2 at Boston University, competing against the Terriers as well as the Yale Bulldogs. The team will have its work cut out for it with just one home race this season. This year's EARC Sprints will be held the weekend of May 14 while the IRA National Championships will begin on June 2.